Cu-Doped Iron Oxide for the Efficient Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction Reaction.

The electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) is a promising alternative synthetic route for sustainable ammonia (NH3) production, because it not only eliminates nitrate (NO3-) from water but also produces NH3 under mild operating conditions. However, owing to the complicated eight-electron reaction and the competition from the hydrogen evolution reaction, developing catalysts with high activities and Faradaic efficiencies (FEs) is highly imperative to improve the reaction performance. In this study, Cu-doped Fe3O4 flakes are fabricated and demonstrated to be excellent catalysts for electrochemical conversion of NO3- to NH3, with a maximum FE of ∼100% and an NH3 yield of 179.55 ± 16.37 mg h-1 mgcat-1 at -0.6 V vs RHE. Theoretical calculations reveal that doping the catalyst surface with Cu results in a more thermodynamically facile reaction. These results highlight the feasibility of promoting the NO3RR activity using heteroatom doping strategies.

Effectiveness and tolerability of camrelizumab combined with molecular targeted therapy for patients with unresectable or advanced HCC.

There is a lack of effective programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)-targeted immunotherapy with good tolerability in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and severely compromised liver function. We assessed patient outcomes after combined camrelizumab and molecular targeted therapy in a multicenter cohort study in China. The study included 99 patients with advanced HCC (58 Child-Pugh A and 41 Child-Pugh B), 84 of them received camrelizumab combined with molecular targeted therapy from January 10, 2019, to March 31, 2021. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and adverse events (AEs) were assessed. The median follow-up was 12.1 months. For patients with Child-Pugh B, the OS probability at 12-months, ORR and DCR were 49.7%, 31.7% and 65.9%, respectively, and the median PFS was 5.1 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.0-7.1], which were comparable with Child-Pugh A patients, although median OS was shorter in Child-Pugh B patients (20.5 vs.13.4 months, P = 0.12). In multivariate analysis, macrovascular infiltration (MVI), but not sex, age, hepatitis B virus etiology, extrahepatic metastasis, Child-Pugh B, or AFP > 400 ng/ml, was associated with 12-months OS [hazard ratio (HR) 2.970, 95% CI 1.276-6.917, P = 0.012] and ORR (HR 2.906, 95% CI 1.18-7.16, P = 0.020). Grade 3/4 immune-related AEs occurred in 26.8% of Child-Pugh B patients, including one potentially treatment-related death. In both groups, the most common AEs were immune thrombocytopenia and hepatotoxicity. Camrelizumab combined with targeted therapy showed favorable effectiveness and tolerability with manageable toxicities in Chinese HCC patients, regardless of Child-Pugh A/B liver function. MVI was associated with suboptimal immunotherapy response and poor prognosis.

Simultaneous detection of three zoonotic pathogens based on phage display peptide and multicolor quantum dots.

With the rapid development of human's exploitation of nature and animal husbandry, zoonoses have become a major public health problem worldwide. It is necessary to establish a rapid, specific and sensitive detection method to screen several zoonotic pathogenic bacteria simultaneously. In this study, phage display technology was used to screen specific peptide of three common zoonotic pathogens, E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes and B. melitensis 16 M. Then, three peptide were obtained, named E2, L4 and B4, which can identify the three pathogens respectively. Three peptide modified with biotin were synthesized and were coupled to streptavidin magnetic beads (MBs) to form peptide-MBs, which enriched the above three pathogens from the samples. Three quantum dot (QD) probes were constructed by coupling three polyclonal antibodies to different fluorescent QD surfaces (QD540, QD580 and QD630). The simultaneous detection method based on peptide-MBs and QDs multicolor fluorescent labeling was established and could detect E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes and B. melitensis 16 M simultaneously. The detection method took about 100 min with the detection limits of 103, 102 and 102 CFU/mL, respectively. The detection method could be also well utilized in real samples.

Biomechanical evaluation of a novel hybrid reconstruction plate for mandible segmental defects: A finite element analysis and fatigue testing.

PURPOSE: This study develops a novel hybrid (NH) reconstruction plate that can provide load-bearing strength, secure the bone transplant at the prosthesis favored position, and also maintain the facial contour in a mandibular segmental defect. A new patient-match bending technique which uses a three-dimensional printing (3DP) stamping process is developed to increase the interfacial fit between the reconstruction plate and mandibular bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The NH reconstruction plate was designed to produce a continuous profile with non-uniform thickness and triangular cross-screw patterns with a locking-screw feature at the plate base. Two mandible segmental defect finite element models including the NH reconstruction plate to secure a bone flap for occlusal requirement and the commercial straight (CS) reconstruction plate to secure a bone flap along the lower mandible border were generated for biomechanical fatigue testing. RESULTS: The simulated results showed that the maximum von Mises stresses of the reconstruction plate for CS secured model are about 4.5 times more than the NH secured model. The bone strains around the fixation screws showed that the CS secured model was meaningfully higher than that of the NH secured model and exceeded the bone limit value. No fracture of any component was found in any sample in the fatigue testing. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the newly developed NH reconstruction plate can secure the transplant position in accordance to the individual occlusal requirements without sacrificing the maintenance of facial contour. Finite element-based biomechanical evaluation demonstrates superior mechanical strength compared to commercial standard plates.